[Skipper]

Septenber 3, 2019.

It was peaceful...too peaceful. Normaly I'd hear Julien dancing to music as usual. But then again, I was gone for 9 years. Maybe he'd changed...well, you never know.

The zoo was the same as when I left it. Exactly the same. Except there is no one crying and begging me to stay. And yes, that was my team who was crying and begging.

I wonder if they missed me. Do they still remember me?...I thought to myself. Maybe I'm just a distant memory to them. I sent them letters, but they never send any back. Don't they know that I'm comming? Maybe they're angry at me for leaving. But angry or not, I still have to face them.

I'm standing on our habitat now. Not a penguin in sight. Not an animal in sight actually. They could either be trying to avoid me, trying to suprise me, or they didn't know I was comming. I rather have them not knowing that I'm comming then to be suprised or ignored.

I think I should wait til someone comes out. Because if I just barge in, next thing you know, I was being cut in half by Rico with a chainsaw.

A penguin finally climbed out of the fishbowl enterance. The same size as me, but he doesn't look familier.

He saw me. "Skippa'?" he said slowly. I'd recongnize that accent anywhere. It was Private! "Skippa' is that you?"

I finally got myself to say something. "Yea. Private?"

"Skippa'! I can't believe it's you," he cheered. "We missed you so-wait! I gotta tell the others!" Private ran inside the HQ.

Oh-Kay...

I looked at my reflection in the water. "Hmm, I haven't changed at all have I?" I said to myself. Private came back out with a bunch of other people.

"Hello penguin!" greeted Julien. "Are you new? Let me to be introducing myself. I am King Julien, King of all kingly kings of king!...ly."

"Julien, it's me. Skipper." I said.

"Oh, Skipper! I haven't seen you since...you left!" he said.

Same old Julien.

A buff penguin with a mohawk stepped forward. "Hey boss..." he said to me. I didn't recongnize him. But I found out that this penguin was Rico!

"Rico? Since when did you start to talk?" I asked.

"Yup. I can talk." he said. "My doll girlfriend was getting on my nerves, so I broke-up with her. Chicks...what are you gonna do with them?"

I stared at him. This doesn't look like the old Rico. The old Rico was psycotic, soft, and in love with that doll. Now he's buff, mean looking, and I think disrespectful. "Uh-huh..." I said slowly.

Something caught the corner of my eye. Someone climbed out of the fishbowl enterace. It was Marlene, but a little taller. "Skipper!" she said and ran to hug me.

We looked at each other. "Wow..." I said. "Since when did you look hot?"...Did I just say that outloud?

"Thanks. Well you haven't changed at all," she said looking at me. "But you did grow taller."

"And stronger!" I added. "So...Where's Kowalski?"

"Oh, He's inside teaching Austin." she replied. I stared at her. Who the heck is Austin? A new member of the team or something? "...Oh! I forgot, You don't know."

"Yea I don't. Who's Austin?" I asked.

"You see...uhh...He's-"

"What? Your boyfriend?" I said.

"Uh no." she replied. I was about to give a sigh of relief, but she continued. " Austin's my son."

My mouth hanged open.

"And Kowalski's his dad..." I shook my head. I didn't want her to know that I'm shocked.

"Oh..." I said, still shocked. But I tried to sound normal. "That's great."

Marlene gave a sigh of relief. "Whew, for a second there I thought you were gonna kill Kowalski and me." she said.

"Well why would I do that?"

Rico smiled. He knew that I wasn't Ok. I was sooooo far from Ok! "Well boss." he said, "C'mon. You've missed a lot."

Everyone went down the fishbowl enterance.

"Sigh, Marlene's married. I shouldn't have left this zoo in the first place..." I mumbled to myself.

"Skipper, are you comming?" Marlene asked. I nodded.

Now let's see if anything else changed while I was gone.